Northwest Ridge

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Page Type: Route

Location: Colorado, United States, North America

Lat/Lon: 38.84420°N / 106.3133°W

Route Type: Hike w/ Some Scrambling

Time Required: Most of a day

Difficulty: Class 2

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Page By: COTrekker02

Created/Edited: Sep 20, 2005 / Jul 21, 2008

Object ID: 166840

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Table of Contents

Approach

Begin the hike from the North Cottonwood Trailhead - this TH is on Chaffee County Road 365, 8.2 miles from Highway 24, north of Buena Vista. The trailhead is at 9,880 feet, and is less than a mile from the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness boundary.

There is parking for about 20+ vehicles at the TH, but get there early as this is the main TH for bagging both Harvard and Columbia peaks, so it always full during the summer.

Route Description

From the N. Cottonwood TH, hike down the main trail for 4 miles to Kroenke Lake, passing the turnoff to the Horn Fork basin below Harvard and Columbia. Hike around the south shore of Kroenke Lake - this is a beautiful lake with ample camping on the shores of and near the lake.

After you pass the lake the trail climbs steeply and quickly into another basin at about 11,900 feet where the trail levels off. There is a rock cairn near where you want to head south towards the ridge of Yale, but there is not definitive trail for the whole route. Head south after leaving the trail towards some rock outrcoppings to the SW and then head down into a small creek drainage filled with Willows. You can find a good game trail to take you across this valley.

Cross the creek and soon after head west up the slope to an open meadow. Hike up the grassy meadow toward another hillside to the south for a couple hundred yards. At the hilltop, turn west for a short time again, avoiding more willows directly below the ridge of Yale. Turn south one last time and hike up a short but steep grassy bench to a 12,500 saddle on the ridge. You can look south into Denny Creek from here, or turn around and look north to Kroenke Lake, and beyond to Harvard and Columbia.

From here you have two options. (1)You could head east up the ridge to point 13,605, and then continue along the NW ridge to where the standard Denny Creek trail reaches the ridge, and follow the good trail all the way to the summit. After passing point 13,605 you will have some class 2+ scrambling along the ridge before meeting the main trail. (2)You could head north east, below the ridge, above the Denny Creek drainage, climbing steadily, but remaining well below the ridgetop. This route avoids the scrambling you'll have to do on the ridgetop and as you follow below the ridge, your hike is easy, crossing grassy tundra and talus fields. You will see the standard Denny Creek trail meander up the ridge from timberline, and join it well below the ridgetop. Follow the good trail as it switchbacks up the slope to the main ridge, and follow it to the summit.

Taking this 2nd route, you will easily save two-three hours round trip over gaining the ridge directly from the saddle, and scrambling along the NW ridge all the way to the summit. On the other hand, the NW ridge is a fun, yet easy scramble with great views of the Horn Fork to the north.

Enjoy the summit, enjoying the Sawatch 14ers to the north and south, and Cottonwood Pass to the west. You also have a great view of the Arkansas Valley and Buena Vista to the east. Descend along the ridge to the NW, and return to the N. Cottonwood valley and Kroenke Lake following one of the two routes described above.

Essential Gear

We did this hike in August, and it is a basic hike with some scrambling on the NW ridge to the summit. You will need good boots, and gaitors would be helpful crossing the drainage south of Kroenke Lake. There is not a well-worn trail, so bring ample water as it is a long hike from Kroenke Lake, and a very long hike all the way from the N. Cottonwood TH. Oh yeah, bring bug juice in the summer, as mosquitos are in the area.

Miscellaneous Info

If you have information about this route that doesn't pertain to any of the other sections, please add it here.